Ákos Malatinszky

Planning management adapted to climate change effects in terrestrial wetlands and grasslands

Wetlands and grasslands are seriously affected by climate change. A main challenge for agriculture and nature conservation is, in parallel with mitigation, adaptation planning. We started a stakeholder dialogue to develop adaptive management of natural areas in the Koros-Maros National Park (SE Hungary). Impacts that affect terrestrial wetlands and grasslands and their agricultural use and are linked to climate change or other pressures were explored. Identification of stakeholders should be followed by providing information about climate change impacts on natural and human systems, a discussion of goals and objectives, a community based assessment, then elaboration of adapted strategies and measures. There is strong need to differentiate between stakeholders, and customise communication strategies for different groups. The benefits of stakeholder involvement are enhanced awareness, willingness to taking action, inclusion of local knowledge, information exchange among affected parties, identification of win-win-solutions for land users and nature conservation, and building trust in authorities.

Climate change related land use problems in protected wetlands: a study in a seriously affected Hungarian area

Land managers of wetlands face various challenges emerging from climate change. Exploration of these problems is a prerequisite to developing adaptive management of vulnerable areas. Central and Eastern European countries are highly vulnerable to climate change. The Balaton Uplands National Park, an attractive tourist destination with natural values of high national and community importance, has suffered the greatest extremities in precipitation in Hungary during 2010 and 2011. After identification of stakeholder groups, private landowners and land managers as being most likely affected by climate change were interviewed in the national park. A compilation of the most important land use problems that already have influence on the management of protected wetlands was listed. Land managers connect several problems to weather extremities and long-term changes, but take practically no actions in favor of mitigation or adaptation, or strengthening resilience. As there is strong evidence that wet habitats are becoming more sensitive and vulnerable, land managers have to adapt their objectives, strategies and measures to changing climate and be involved in the process of adapting the management measures of protected areas, especially wetlands, to probable effects of climate change.

Suggested Management Measures for Natura 2000 Habitats in Körös-Maros National Park, Hungary

Several factors should be considered during the process of developing climate change adapted management for vulnerable lowland wetlands. These are presented through the three sample areas of the Koros-Maros National Park (SE Hungary). Natural habitats, like wetlands of Central and Eastern European countries, are highly vulnerable to climate change. Problems reported by stakeholders, as well as drivers and pressures delivered from sensitivity maps, focus on those phenomena that are directly or indirectly connected to climate change. As strong evidence shows that wet habitats are becoming more sensitive and vulnerable, land users have to adapt their objectives, strategies and measures to a changing climate. This involves the processes of adapting the management measures of protected areas, especially wetlands, to adjust to probable effects of climate change. Adaptive management planning should be prioritised by conservation goals by identifying which species or habitats should be primarily preserved (e.g. birds, butterflies and their feeding plants, orchids, other protected plant species, landscape views etc.) and should be determined by the evaluation of factors at the determined planning unit (e.g. habitat type or patch or protected area level). Mowing techniques, the frequency and exact date should be observed as well as grazing species and their breed, due to different grazing, group forming and trampling habits. Therefore, integrating the history of the landscape and land development into the management planning process of wetlands is essential. However, old/historical maps are often not accurate. Since most were prepared for military use, historical maps sometimes fail to fulfil the requirements of nature sciences and management, and their legends can be insufficient for deriving appropriate information. Management planning should be based on up-to-date, exact, ecologically relevant, and socially circumstantial data contrived from historical land use.

Wetland habitats of the Kis-Sárrét 1860–2008 (Körös-Maros National Park, Hungary)

The manuscript presents maps of internationally important wetlands located in the Kis-Sárrét (Hungary) from 1860 to 2008. The study area is located in south-east Hungary, in the Körös-Maros National Park and covers 8048 ha. For the historic map review, we used digitized data of topographic maps from the period of two military surveys and the Second World War. We also made habitat maps of the area in 2007 and 2008. Data processing, and the establishment of a database of the mapped area, was made using QuantumGIS 1.7.0 and Esri ArcView GIS 3.2. Maps were produced using Esri ArcGIS 10.0 and show where and in what ratio the once extensive wetlands occurred, how they changed and in which part of the area they survived in different mapping periods. They provide a point of reference for the monitoring of wetlands, contributing to the long-term conservation of these valuable habitats. Maps and diagrams show that between 1860 and 1944 wetland extent decreased by half. The ratio of natural, ‘purely’ wet habitats reaches only 4.67% now. Wetlands typically occur in habitat complexes, therefore not ‘purely’ wet habitats (20.77%) also have to be taken into account. Considering this, and a recent habitat reconstruction, the extent of wetlands is more favourable today than it was in 1944. However, to sustain them requires care and well-planned management to which the maps presented here provide an important basis.

Signs of environmental change as reflected by soil and vegetation on sandy areas in the Carpathian Basin

Oil rape is a valuable fodder because in early spring and late autumn it produces green forage used for the nutrition of domestic animals. It has been replacing sunflower and soy in colder and wetter regions. It is additionally advantageous because it leaves behind more nitrogen in soil, which is beneficial to other plants in plant rotation. There are some possible ways for the fixation of nitrogen in soil and they are as follows: by the means of oil rape straw ; by relatively long roots ; by the action of nitrogen bacteria, which perform the nitrogen synthesis within their root system, which is the case in some leguminous plants. Oil seed rape is expected to be wider used in crop rotation of West and Middle Europe, Croatia included. Due to this various sorts have been introduced and potential positive impacts have been studied in order to boost the process. This paper presents information on barley and wheat yield in case when they were sown after oil seed rape and corn. The aim of the research is to determine the presence of positive impacts upon the soil with special attention paid to a potential increase of nitrogen content after oil seed rape was grown. The preceding crops had statistically significant effect. Rape yield was significantly higher compared to the one with corn as preceding crops. Very similar results were obtained in 2007.The maize hybrids seed from three different FAO groups (FAO 400, FAO 500 and FAO 600) in four fractions (KO, KP, SO and SP) produced in two climatically different years (extremely dry 2000 and extremely wet 2001) had been different in quality and chemical composition. The effects of year, genetic specifity and seed fraction at the kernel mass, chemical composition (starch, proteins, cellulose, oil and moisture content) and seed vigour have been evaluated. The influence of agroecological conditions during two production years have been exposed at seed chemical composition and vigour indicators (cold test – CT and bulk seed electrical conductivity - EC). The genetic specificity and seed fraction had significant influence at all tested indices, with the exception of the influence of the fraction at the starch content

Studies on botany and environmental management relations on a wooded pasture between Pénzesgyőr and Hárskút villages

Wooded pastures are not only important parts of the Hungarian landscape, but they have preserved historical farming methods. Since the beginning of grazing activities in forests, humans and grazing animals have continuously formed their state. Forests of lower quality were ideal places to provide food and shade for grazing animals. Authors experienced such a sight during the first visit in the research area. A landscape with picturesque view and various, mosaic-like structure was recognized with huge old seed trees. As the territory is so diverse, authors investigated from different aspects such as landscape history, botany, forestry, nature conservation, landscape ecology and grassland management. Grazing of the research site was abandoned in the early 1990’s, therefore, the effects of natural succession are clearly visible now in this habitat and cultural landscape, being in close-to-natural condition despite the fact that it had been created by human activities. As a result of abandonment, the typical landscape – dominated by ancient seed trees – is on the way of disappearing. Authors’ aim was to explore the history and the present botanical state of the area and to follow the succession progress of the forests. By planning a habitat network and preparing a land use plan for the future, authors tried to ensure the preservation of this wooded pasture by ensuring ideas for nature conservation and sustainability. Organic matter content plays an important role as nutrient (Ercoli et al. 2006) and shallow soils have extreme water regime (Birkas et al. 2005). Any activity that reduces the soil cover by removing the vegetation is unfavorable, increases the effect of erosion processes, especially considering the effect of future climate change (Mudri et al. 2005). Observations on vegetation of pastures and its changes have got a high importance, especially in case of grass species (Poaceae), since it is mainly these species that ensure the most valuable forage for grazing animals (Sule et al. 2006. Penksza et al. 2005a, 2005b, 2005c).